Big-time event finds a way to maintain small-town feel

By Roy Bragg :
August 16, 2012
: Updated: August 16, 2012 11:53pm

The McAllister Park National Little League team sign autographs after wrapping up practice on the first day of the 2012 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The team, representing the Southwest Champions will face off with the Mid-Atlantic Champions from Parsippany, New Jersey, Friday afternoon. Getting their tee-shirts signed are Rocco Frisco, 10, left, and Derek Timko, 11.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

The McAllister Park National LIttle League team gathers as they wrap up practice on the first day of the 2012 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The San Antonio team, representing the Southwest Champions, will face off with the Mid-Atlantic Champions from Parsippany, New Jersey, in their first game Friday afternoon.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Players, fans and family gather by the ESPN broadcast area for an opportunity to be on live television on the first day of the 2012 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. San Antonio's McAllister Park National Little League team, representing the Southwest Champions, will face off with the Mid-Atlantic Champions from Parsippany, New Jersey, Friday afternoon.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Sarina Lauchle, 12, of Milton, Pennsylvania, gets her tee-shirt autographed by members of the McAllister Park National LIttle League on the first day of the 2012 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The team, representing the Southwest Champions will face off with the Mid-Atlantic Champions from Parsippany, New Jersey, Friday afternoon. Signing the shirt are from left, Carter Elliott, 13, Mason Moore, 12 and Grant Gomez, 13.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

The McAllister Park National Little League team Coach Kyle Elliott, center in blue, and Manager Jack Wideman, Jr, right, wrap up practice with the team on the first day of the 2012 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The team, representing the Southwest Champions will face off with the Mid-Atlantic Champions from Parsippany, New Jersey, Friday afternoon.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

A crowd gathers on the hillside to watch as New England Champions from Fairfield, Connecticut play the West Champions from Petaluma, California, on the first day of the 2012 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. San Antonioâ€™s McAllister Park National Little League, representing the Southwest Champions will face off with the Mid-Atlantic Champions from Parsippany, New Jersey, Friday afternoon.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Sarina Lauchle, 12, (cq), left, of Belton, Pennsylvania, gets her tee-shirt autographed by members of the McAllister Park National Little League on the first day of the 2012 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. The team, representing the Southwest Champions will face off with the Mid-Atlantic Champions from Parsippany, New Jersey, Friday afternoon. From left, Landry Wideman, 13, Carter Elliott, 13, Mason Moore, 12 and Grant Gomez, 13 sign the shirt.

Some players smiled or nodded. Others got into it, swinging their palms at those of the Texans. And, as good baseball players, they always followed through.

Minutes later, the teams would take the field for the opening ceremonies of the 73rd incarnation of the greatest event in youth sports. That would be the formal greeting, complete with speeches, flag ceremonies, songs and accolades.

But the gesture by Keasler and Bruffy — who have no connection to any of the other team's players — might be the most succinct summary of what this event is all about.

Little League baseball, at this level, is about achievement and reward. It's about kids and their families working hard, sacrificing and being rewarded for it. It amplifies the best and makes the worst — losing on a swing or a bad throw, at age 12, in front of a global television audience — even tougher to swallow.

And even that has a happy ending. If a kid can deal with that and still wants to play next season, he's shown resilience. The rest of life's disappointments might not seem so bad.

“A lot of people don't understand that,” South Williamsport mayor David Lechniak said. “At one time, Little League was just about the sport. A lot of people look at it and say ‘OK, kids are playing.' But it's organized play. They're having a good time. You've got adults teaching them the right way to play, the right way to play together and the right way to enjoy it.”

The game also teaches the kids how to rely on each other, says Davie Jane Gilmour, Little League's chairman-elect. As in society, no one can go it alone. Baseball amplifies the need to co-exist.

The Little League International complex sits at the base of a large, tall, green hill on the outskirts of town. The mood resembles that of a county fair, with clusters of children and families weaving their way between two stadiums and lots of food and souvenir vendors.

Everyone is smiling. Everyone is happy. Kids are posing with kids from other countries.

In many ways, this event also is a triumph of American culture and values.